Setting up and configuring the video surveillance system

The guiding principle in connection with all items addressed in this section should be to minimize any negative impact on the privacy and other fundamental rights and legitimate interests of those under surveillance.

Camera locations and viewing angles

Camera locations should be chosen to minimize viewing areas that are not relevant for the intended purposes.

As a rule, where a video surveillance system is installed to protect the assets (property or information) of the organization, or the safety of staff and visitors, the organization should restrict monitoring to

• carefully selected areas containing sensitive information, high-value items or other assets requiring heightened protection for a specific reason,
• entry and exit points to the buildings (including emergency exits and fire exits and walls or fences surrounding the building or property), and
• entry and exit points within the building connecting different areas which are subject to different access rights and separated by locked doors or another access control mechanism.

Number of cameras

The number of cameras to be installed will depend on the size of the buildings and the security needs, which, in turn, are contingent upon a variety of factors. The same number and type of cameras may be appropriate for one organization and may be grossly disproportionate for another. However, all other things being equal, the number of cameras is a good indicator of the complexity and size of a surveillance system and may suggest increased risks to privacy and other fundamental rights. As the number of cameras increases, there is also an increased likelihood that they will not be used efficiently, and information overload occurs. Therefore, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recommends limiting the number of cameras to what is strictly necessary to achieve the purposes of the system. The number of cameras must be included in the video surveillance policy.

Times of monitoring

The time when the cameras are set to record should be chosen to minimize monitoring at times that are not relevant for the intended purposes. If the purpose of video surveillance is security, whenever possible, the system should be set to record only during times when there is a higher likelihood that the purported security problems occur.

Resolution and image quality

Adequate resolution and image quality should be chosen. Different purposes will require different image qualities. For example, when identification of the individuals is crucial, the resolution of the cameras, compression settings in a digital system, the location, the lighting and other factors should all be considered and chosen or modified so that the resulting image quality would be sufficient to provide recognizable facial images. If identification is not necessary, the camera resolution and other modifiable factors can be chosen to ensure that no recognizable facial images are captured.